Christ Church, PresbyterianThe Lord’s Day, December 14, 2014

THE THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT

The Morning Service, eleven o’clock To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood. Revelation 1:5

† indicates the congregation standing; • indicates seating for those detainedTo avoid distractions during worship, please silence all cell phones and pagers.

• The Organ Prelude – In Dulci Jubilo ................................................Buxtehude

The Choral Call to Worship ................................................... veni emmanuel

O come, Thou Dayspring from on high, and cheer us by Thy drawing nigh; Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death’s dark shadows put to flight. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to Thee, O Israel.

The Scriptural Call to Worship ................................................. Psalm 95:1–3 Pastor: Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation! People: Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise! Pastor: For the Lord is a great God, People: And a great King above all gods.

•† The Hymn of Praise – (Trinity Hymnal, No. 196) ............................hyfrydol

Come, Thou Long–Expected Jesus

† The Invocation & Prayer of Adoration..........The Rev. J. Josiah Jones, Pastor

The Only Christmas RequirementWho can add to Christmas? The perfect motive is that God so loved the world. The perfect gift is that He gave His only Son. The only require-ment is to believe in Him. The reward of faith is that you shall have everlasting life.

— Corrie Ten Boom

Christ Church, PresbyterianA congregation of the Presbyterian Church in America

4201 Southern Pines Drive, Evans, GA 30809Phone (706) 210–9090 • Facsimile (706) 364–9086

www.ChristChurchPres.org

Assisting in the ServicesElders greeting at the doors before this morning’s service are George Bowen & McDonald Law.Ushers are Lanier Adams, Richard Deal, Mark Goodell, Charles Kimbrell & Mark Walters.

The Deacon on Duty is Ed Russell.Elders greeting at the doors next Lord’s Day will be John Dunsmore & Charles McClure.Ushers next Lord’s Day will be Will Boyd, Will Crews, Mark Goodell, William Jewett & Barry Smith.

The Deacon on Duty will be Barry Smith.

StaffThe Rev. J. Josiah Jones, Pastor

Dr. Mark Nabholz, Director of Music; Mr. Mark Dickens, OrganistMrs. Shirley McBride, Secretary/Bookkeeper

Mr. Scott Doss, AV & Social Media Director; Mr. Charles Caruso, Sexton

This Week at Christ ChurchWeek of December 14 – December 20

SUNDAY, December 148:00 a.m. ....WGAC, 580AM and 95.1FM Radio, and www.wgac.com Broadcasts9:45 a.m. ..........................................................................Sunday School Nursery (Birth–23 mos.) ...........................................................Nursery 1 Preschool (24–48 mos.) .............................................................Nursery 2 K–4 – K–5 .................................................................... Children’s House Grades 1–2 ............................................................... Children’s House Grades 3–4 ................................................................... Children’s House Grades 5–6 ...........................................................................Youth House Grades 7–8 ...........................................................................Youth House Grades 9–12 .........................................................................Youth House Special Education ............................................................Deacons’ Room Young Adults ........................................................................Upper Room Young Families .................................................................. Church Office Adult................................................................................. Covenant Hall11:00 a.m. .........................Morning Worship ........................... Sanctuary

On the second hymn, children in K4 through Grade 3 may exit for Catechism.5:00 p.m. .......................... Sunday Prayer Meeting .....................Covenant Hall6:00 p.m. ....................Christmas Festival Service ..................... SanctuaryMONDAY, December 157:00 p.m. ................................ Trail Life ........................... Covenant HallTUESDAY, December 167:00 p.m. .................... Adult Bible Study, Evans........................W. JonesWEDNESDAY, December 176:30 p.m. ............................ Caroling Party ...................... Covenant HallFRIDAY, December 197:00 a.m. .......................Men’s Prayer Breakfast ................ Covenant Hall6:00 p.m. ....................Young Family Bible Study .............. S. Dyer HomeSATURDAY, December 202:30 p.m. ...................Children’s Christmas Party ............. Covenant Hall

TO THE GLORY OF GODby

Yushen Chang

TO THE GLORY OF GODAND IN MEMORY OF

My parents, William and Dorothy Clarke, by Carol Ryans

William Daniel Burroughs by his family

Our parents by Anne and Bill Alston

Our parents by Tom and Frances Loughran

Our parents by Don and Pat Lewis

Bates Folley by Martha Folley

Marian Nielsen Losch by Mr. & Mrs. John Clark and Jason

Matthew Clark by Mr. & Mrs. John Clark and Jason

Mr. W. S. Mauldin, Jr., and Mr. & Mrs. W. S. Mauldin, Sr., by Mr. & Mrs. Oliver Brown, Mrs. Carol Mauldin and their families

Dr. & Mrs. W. R. Pennington, Ms. Penny Pennington and Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Hector McMillan by Daniel & Peggy McMillan

Loved ones by Marita Myers

Mr. & Mrs. James Lee Smalley by Mr. & Mrs. George L. Bowen

Bill & Marion Hatcher by Billy and Debra Hatcher

Glenn Dunlap by Debra & Billy Hatcher

Husband Anthony P. Nunziato and grandson Micah P. Nunziato by Thelma P. Nunziato

Ed & Cass Mehr and George McClure by The McClure family

Mildred & Kenneth Norkus, Mary & Roger Rossman and Patricia Johnson by the Norkus family

The Poinsettiasare given

Sarah Walters by Mark & Susan Walters and her sister Rachel

Our parents, Al & Jane Rihl, by Bob & Jordy Rihl

Our parents, George & Dee Van Deventer, by Bob & Jordy Rihl

Our parents, Charles & Ethel Heintz and Jack & Dorothy Dunsmore, by John & Diane Dunsmore

George & Beverly Wells and Ora Nichols Parish, Sr., by Ora & Natalie Parish and family

Ernestine Law by McDonald & Ilona Law

Grandparents, Kent & Joanne Swift, by Josiah & Jenn Jones and family

My parents, Mr. & Mrs. W. W. Cheshire, by Joanne Pierce

Mr. & Mrs. Cecil Hagood and Mr. & Mrs. Donald Townsend by Jenny & Don Townsend

TO THE GLORY OF GODAND IN HONOR OF

Our children, their spouses and grandchildren by Jenny & Don Townsend

My mother, Billie McPherson, by Cherry McPherson

John & Cheryl Manthei by Anne Bowen

Our granddaughters, Bennett Elizabeth Lyday and Carter Heaton Boyd, by Dr. & Mrs. Michael Boyd

Joey Johnson by his wife, Margaret Johnson

My wife, Margaret, by Joey Johnson

Martha G. McClure by the McClure family

Josiah & Jenn Jones by Nancy Parks

Our Parents by Ed & Maria Russell

Helen’s grandmother, Mrs. Jane Barrett Hull, by Wade & Helen Caldwell.

Pray for Our MissionariesPlease remember these missionaries and organizations designated for special prayer in our worship services today and in your daily prayers this week:

Clay and Darlene Quarterman, Mission to the World (PCA), UkraineCharles Rector, Presbyterian Evangelistic Fellowship (PEF), Augusta, GeorgiaPaul Volpitto, Presbyterian Evangelistic Fellowship (PEF), Augusta, Georgia

Bruce and Barbara Wannemacher, Mission to the World (PCA), South Africa

The Offering and the Prayer of Dedication (Please record your attendance in the green Friendship Register.)

The Offertory Anthem ........................................................................ Wilberg How far is it to Bethlehem? Not very far. Shall we find the stable room lit by a star? Can we see the little Child, is He within? If we lift the wooden latch, may we go in? May we stroke the creatures there, ox, ass or sheep? May we peer like them and see Jesus sleep? If we touch His tiny hand, will He awake? Will He know we’ve come so far just for His sake? Great kings have precious gifts, and we have naught, little smiles and little tears are all we brought. For all weary children Mary must weep; here, on the bed of straw, sleep, children, sleep. God in His mother’s arms; babes in the byre; sleep, as they sleep who find their heart’s desire.

† The Hymn of Preparation (Trinity Hymnal, No. 221) .. es ist ein’ ros’ entsprungen

Lo, How a Rose E’er BloomingOn the final verse, children in K4 through Grade 3 may exit for Catechism.

The Gospel Lesson ...................................................... John 21:15–25 (page 907)

The Response

Pastor: This is the Gospel of Christ. People: Praise be to Thee, O Christ.

The Prayer for Illumination

The Sermon ......................................................................................Rev. JonesA RESTORING REVELATION OF THE RISEN CHRIST, PT. 2

† The Hymn of Response (Trinity Hymnal, No. 535) .............................. ebenezer

O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus!

† The Benediction

The Organ Postlude – Vom Himmel Hoch ...........................................Pachelbel

† The Confession of Faith ................................................... The Apostles’ Creed I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth;

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic* Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting. Amen. (*universal)

† The Gloria Patri (Trinity Hymnal No. 734) ................................................meineke

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, World without end. Amen, amen.

The Missions Moment .....................................................................David Dyer

The Response ....................................................................................Isaiah 40:8

Pastor: The grass withers, and the flower fades, People: But the word of our God stands forever.

The Corporate Confession of SinMost merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against You in thought, word and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent, for the sake of Your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in Your will, and walk in Your ways, to the glory of Your Name. Amen.

The Individual Confession of Sin (silently)

The Scriptural Assurance of Pardon ...................................... Psalm 103:8–12The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will He keep His anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does He remove our transgres-sions from us.

The Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession

The Lord’s Prayer (using debts and debtors)

The Response to God’s Grace (sung by all).........................................................caritas My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine, For Thee all the follies of sin I resign. My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou, If ever I love Thee, my Jesus, ‘tis now.

Other Announcements

Adult Bible Study, Evans — The Adult Bible Study, Evans will meet Tuesday, December 16, in the home of Linda and Warren Jones located at 503 Thompkins Lane. Fellowship and refreshments begin at 7:00 p.m. followed by a study on 1 Peter at 7:30. Please phone the Jones’ at 706–447–2546 with any questions.

Christmas Caroling Party — This Wednesday, December 17, all are invited to an evening of Christmas caroling from 6:30–8:00 p.m. starting at Covenant Hall. Youth, families, carolers of all ages are invited to help share the joy of Christmas in the neighborhoods and retirement communities near the church campus. Contact Mark Nabholz for more information: 706–306–1374 or music@christchurchpres.org.

Young Family Bible Study — The Young Families will join in a Christmas gathering at the home of Allyn and Stephen Dyer, located at 18 Park Place Circle in Augusta. We hope that you will be able to join us on Thursday, December 19, at 6 p.m. for a time of fellowship as we celebrate Christ’s birth!

Men’s Prayer Breakfast — “Personal discipline,” says R. Kent Hughes, “is the indispens-able key for accomplishing anything in this life.” What is true in every area of life is especially true when it comes to growing in godliness. Yet, discipline in godliness is the ex-ception rather than the rule among Evangelicals today—especially among men. Our desire at Christ Church is that it would be the rule rather than the exception. That is why the men of Christ Church are discussing Hughes’ powerful book, Disciplines of a Godly Man, at each Men’s Prayer Breakfast before engaging in the discipline of prayer. Men, join us this Friday at 7:00 a.m. in Covenant Hall for food, fellowship, discussion of the "Discipline of Friendship” and a time of prayer. “God is looking for a few good men!”

Adult Bible Study, Augusta — The Adult Bible Study, Augusta will not meet on December 18. The next meeting is scheduled for January 8 as the first Thursday in January is New Year’s Day.

Thanksgiving Day Service and Offering – What a joy it was to gather as a church fam-ily on Thanksgiving Day for a God–honoring, heart–gladdening service of praise and thanksgiving to God Triune! We rejoice in the strong participation of Christ Church in attendance (97 present), testimony and giving in support of the Palmer Home for Chil-dren (gifts totaling $1,493.25).

Christmas Festival Service CDs – Compact disc recordings of this year’s Christmas Festi-val Service will be available in the next few weeks at a cost of $12 each. Orders may be placed using the sign–up sheet on the Welcome Table.

Stewardship Report – The Session and Diaconate would like to thank all in the congrega-tion who have given pledges toward Kingdom work through Christ Church, Presbyterian for the fiscal year 2015. The Lord has blessed our church with a total of $472,934 in giving commitments, which is an increase of 5% compared with the prior year, to further His work throughout our local community and the world! If you were unable to do so earlier, you may either place your pledge card in the offering plate or mail it to the church office. Additional pledge cards are available on the Deacon’s tables at the back of the sanctuary.

Year–end Giving – Please remember that, in order for gifts to be credited to fiscal year 2014, contributions must be received in the office or postmarked by December 31, 2014.

WelcomeWe are delighted that you have joined us in worship today. It is our desire that, as prayers are raised, hymns and anthems are sung, and God’s Word is proclaimed, our worship will bring glory to God and gladness to His people. Indeed, we pray that you will personally be blessed by the corporate worship of the Triune God and return to worship with us next Lord’s Day. If you would like to know more about Christ Church, how to become a mem-ber, or, most importantly, how to have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, please talk with an elder standing by the piano following the service.

Officer Ordination and InstallationWe rejoice in and give thanks for the Lord’s provision of two officers to serve at Christ Church in the class of 2017. Our congregation elected Billy Hatcher and Ora Parish to serve as elders. The ordination and installation of these men will be on January 4 in the Sunday morning service. Please begin praying even now that the Lord will prepare them to serve His church with great joy, energy and effectiveness for His glory.

Advent WreathThe rose candle, lit on the third Sunday of Advent, is called the “Shepherds’ Candle.” It reminds us that the angels announced the most glorious news of the birth of the Savior to simple shepherds outside of Bethlehem. Upon hearing the message, these shepherds departed immediately to find Mary, Joseph and the newborn baby. “When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.’ And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger” (Luke 2:15–16).

Scripture MemoryIn addition to spending time daily in personal devotion and study, one of the best ways to go deeper into God’s Word is by committing it to memory and meditating upon it throughout the day. Let us together go deeper in God’s Word, memorizing this week Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Series A: Live the New Life; Topic: Witnessing).